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H 7179Bikes & Pedestrians

Health and Safety - Vehicle Barriers - The Charlotte A. Vacca Act

Mandates vehicle barriers at new retail developments to protect pedestrians and requires insurance discounts for owners who install them.

Held for study
Population
Affected
25
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 21, 2026Committee House Corporations

Plain-English Summary

The "Charlotte A. Vacca Act" requires owners of new commercial real estate developments intended for retail use to install vehicle barriers, such as bollards, to protect pedestrians and building occupants from vehicle collisions. The bill provides an exception for buildings where the parking lanes run parallel to the entrance rather than perpendicular. Additionally, the legislation mandates that insurance companies provide a discount to property owners who install these barriers, provided the discount is actuarially sound and approved by the state insurance commissioner.

For younger readers

This new law is called "The Charlotte A. Vacca Act." It says that when people build new stores or shopping centers, they must put up strong safety posts or barriers outside. These barriers are there to stop cars from accidentally crashing into the building or hitting people walking nearby. If a building owner puts these safety barriers up, insurance companies must give them a discount on their insurance bills because the property is safer for everyone.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Commercial Real Estate DevelopersRetail Store OwnersInsurance CompaniesPedestriansConstruction Contractors
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
None

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Enhances public safety by mandating physical protections for pedestrians and shoppers, potentially preventing tragic accidents and saving lives in community spaces.
  • Prioritizes the welfare of the community over potential construction cost savings for developers by requiring safety infrastructure in new retail developments.
  • Ensures that safety barriers remain accessible to all members of the public by explicitly requiring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • Only mandates barriers for new construction, leaving pedestrians at existing retail locations vulnerable unless owners voluntarily choose to incur the cost of retrofitting.
  • Could impose additional capital costs on small business owners and community cooperatives looking to build new facilities, potentially hindering local economic development.
  • The insurance discount provision relies on actuarial approval, meaning corporations might avoid offering significant financial relief to small business owners despite the safety improvements.
For Conservatives
  • Mandates insurance discounts for property owners who install barriers, using market mechanisms to reward safety investments and potentially lowering long-term operating costs.
  • Protects private property and commercial real estate assets from severe structural damage caused by accidental vehicle collisions.
  • Includes a practical exemption for buildings with parallel parking, demonstrating a common-sense approach that avoids unnecessary regulation where risks are naturally lower.
  • Imposes new government mandates on private property owners and developers, increasing the cost and regulatory burden of new commercial construction.
  • Interferes with the free market by legally forcing private insurance companies to offer discounts, rather than allowing them to assess risk and set premiums independently.
  • Expands the state's regulatory footprint into building design specifics, potentially setting a precedent for further micromanagement of private business operations.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 32 additions

SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 23-106-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Charlotte A. Vacca Act." 23-106-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Owner" means the proprietor, operator, lessor, or sublessor of commercial real estate defined in § 34-49-2, which is utilized, in whole or in part, by a retail establishment.

(2) "Retail establishments" means all sales outlets, stores, shops, or other places of business located within the state, which operate primarily to sell or convey food or goods.

(3) "Vehicle barrier" means a safety device that meets, at a minimum, the vehicle impact protection standards as adopted and amended by the Rhode Island building code commission, and that is installed to protect persons located within or on the property or to protect pedestrians, from collisions into buildings by motor vehicles. 23-106-3. Installation of vehicle barriers.

(a) Owners, as a part of any new construction of commercial real estate or buildings thereon, shall install vehicle barriers. Owners shall also be encouraged to install vehicle barriers at the locations of all of the owner's other retail establishments to protect persons and pedestrians on the property or within the establishment. Provided, any vehicle barrier shall be installed so that there is sufficient space to ensure wheelchair access and to otherwise be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.) and any other applicable state and local law regarding access for persons with disabilities.

(b) Provided, the vehicle barriers required under this section shall not be required immediately in front of the entrance to the building if the parking lot lanes or stripe lines in the front lot are parallel to, and not perpendicular to, the front entrance to the building. 23-106-4. Insurance discount.

(a) An insurer shall consider the installation of vehicle barriers as a safety measure and shall provide or offer a discount on the owner's insurance covering damage or loss to the covered commercial real estate or liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the commercial real estate relative to the reduced risk to the property as a result of installation of the vehicle barrier(s).

(b) Any discounts on insurance provided in accordance with this section shall be determined to be actuarially sound and approved by the insurance commissioner prior to their utilization by insurers.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.